Wheeled concrete supply hose moving device

ABSTRACT

A wheeled hose moving device that is movable over a support surface and that is operable to grasp, lift and move a concrete supply hose at the support surface. The device includes a wheeled support including a hose grasping device and at least one hose support element. The hose grasping device includes a pair of grasping arms configured to grasp and release a concrete supply hose. The hose grasping device is vertically movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The hose support element includes a pair of support arms that pivot relative to one another. The pair of grasping arms move from their opened state toward their closed state to engage and grasp the concrete supply hose. As the grasping device raises the grasped hose upward, the support arms pivot from their opened state toward their closed state to support the grasped and raised hose.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 62/410,093, filed Oct. 19, 2016, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to concrete placing devices and,more particularly, to devices for placing concrete via one or moreconcrete supply hoses that provide a conduit for directing uncuredconcrete to a targeted location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, uncured concrete may be conveyed or conduited from a sourceor supply, such as a truck or the like, to a targeted placing location,where the uncured concrete is discharged onto the targeted area via adischarge device or nozzle. The uncured concrete is often pumped into aflexible concrete supply hose that may be laid along the ground orsubgrade surface between the concrete supply or source and the dischargedevice. As the discharge device is moved over the targeted area, thesupply hose must also be moved to accommodate the movement of thedischarge device relative to the concrete source. Also, as the dischargedevice is moved toward the concrete source, sections of the hose may beremoved to shorten the supply hose or conduit between the concretesource and the discharge device. Such movement and removal of the hoseand hose sections is often highly labor intensive, since the hose and/orhose section typically has uncured concrete therein and, thus, is quiteheavy for a person or persons to lift and/or move over the ground orsubgrade surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a concrete supply hose moving device thatincludes a wheeled frame or unit and a hose grasping device for graspingand lifting a concrete supply hose or section of hose, whereby one ormore additional hose supports grasp and support the lifted hose, so thatthe wheeled unit may readily move the concrete supply hose or section ofhose to a desired location. The hose supports are operable to open andclose responsive to vertical movement of the hose grasping device, suchthat a single actuator raises and lowers the hose grasping device andcauses opening and closing of the hose support devices. Such cooperativeoperation of the hose support devices is provided via a mechanicallinkage between the hose support devices and a vertically movable frameor bracket at which the hose grasping device is mounted.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheeled hose moving device inaccordance with the present invention, shown supporting a section ofhose, and shown in a four wheel steering mode, with the front and rearwheels used for steering;

FIGS. 2A-C are perspective views of a hose lifting and supporting deviceof the wheeled hose moving device of FIG. 1, shown above a section ofhose;

FIG. 2D is an enlarged perspective view of the device of FIG. 2C;

FIGS. 3A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element begins to move downward andthe two hose support elements open;

FIG. 3D is an enlarged perspective view of the device of FIG. 3C;

FIGS. 4A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element moves further downwardtowards the hose section;

FIG. 4D is an enlarged perspective view of the device of FIG. 4C;

FIGS. 5A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element engages the hose section;

FIGS. 6A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element grasps the hose section;

FIG. 6D is an enlarged perspective view of the device of FIG. 6C;

FIGS. 7A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element begins to lift the hosesection;

FIGS. 8A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element lifts the hose sectiontowards the support elements whereby the support elements begin toclose;

FIG. 8D is an enlarged perspective view of the device of FIG. 8C;

FIGS. 9A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element lifts the hose sectionfurther whereby the support elements continue to close;

FIG. 9D is an enlarged perspective view of the device of FIG. 9C;

FIGS. 10A-C are perspective views of the hose lifting and supportingdevice, shown as the center grasping element lifts the hose section to alifted or support position whereby the support elements close around orbelow the lifted hose section;

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the wheeled hose moving device ofFIG. 1, shown in a two wheel steering mode, with the front wheels (orrear wheels) used for steering and the other wheels held in a straightor non-steering mode;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wheeled hose moving device of FIG.1, shown in a crab steering mode, with the front and rear wheels usedfor steering;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a wheeled hose moving device andconcrete placing device in accordance with the present invention, shownsupporting a section of hose, and shown in a four wheel steering mode,with the front and rear wheels used for steering;

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the wheeled hose moving deviceand concrete placing device of FIG. 13, shown in a two wheel steeringmode, with the front wheels (or rear wheels) used for steering and theother wheels held in a straight or non-steering mode;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the wheeled hose moving device andconcrete placing device of FIG. 13, shown in a crab steering mode, withthe front and rear wheels used for steering; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic of a hydraulic system for steering the wheeledhose moving device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now specifically to the drawings and the illustrativeembodiments depicted therein, a wheeled hose moving device or apparatusor machine 10 is operable to grasp and move a concrete supply hose orsection of hose 11. The wheeled hose moving device 10 includes a wheeledsupport or base unit 12 and at least one hose grasping and liftingdevice or mechanism or apparatus 14 that is movably supported by wheeledsupport unit 12. As shown in FIGS. 2A-10C, the hose grasping and liftingdevice 14 includes a central grasping and lifting device or element 16and two support devices or elements 18, one at or near each end of thewheeled support unit 12. The central grasping and lifting element 16(comprising a pair of curved arms configured to receive or grasp aconcrete supply hose when in a closed or grasping orientation) isgenerally vertically movable (such as via an elevation device 20) and isadjustable to engage and grasp a concrete supply hose and to lift orraise or generally vertically move the concrete supply hose, asdiscussed below. As the central grasping and lifting element is raisedand lowered, the support elements 18 are opened and closed responsive tothe raising/lowering of the grasping device, such as via a linkageassembly 22, as also discussed below. Thus, the hose grasping andlifting element 14 is operable to lift and support a hose section via asingle actuator or hydraulic cylinder or the like. The wheeled supportunit 12 may be driven and steered to move the lifted concrete supplyhose to a desired or appropriate or targeted location, as also discussedbelow.

The wheeled support unit 12 includes a frame portion supported by a pairof rubber-tired wheels. The wheels may be rotatably driven viarespective drive motors, such as hydraulic motors or the like, toprovide driving of the apparatus over and through the uncured concreteor subgrade materials. The drive motors (see hydraulic circuit of FIG.16) may be actuated and deactuated and controlled via a user input orcontrol of the wheeled support unit 12 (which may be at or on the unitor remote from the unit whereby the unit is steered via remote control).

Wheeled support unit 12 includes a power source, such as a gasolinepowered engine or the like, and a hydraulic control system forcontrolling operation of hydraulic motors and hydraulic actuators and/orthe like (FIG. 16). The wheels and drive motors are mounted to therespective generally vertical posts, such as by utilizing aspects of thewheeled devices described in U.S. Publication No. US-2007-0090203 and/orU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,588,976 and/or 6,623,208, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. The drive motors and wheels maybe independently driven and/or correspondingly driven and/ordifferentially driven, such as to assist in controlling and/or steeringthe wheeled support unit 12 as it is driven and moved over the surface.For example, the drive motors may comprise hydraulic motors that arepowered via a hydraulic pump and solenoids or control valves (FIG. 16),and which may be differentially powered so as to adjust the power orpressure at each drive motor so as to limit slippage of one or both ofthe wheels as the wheeled support unit is driven along the supportsurface and/or over the concrete supply hose at the support surface.

The wheeled support unit may be steered by an operator as the wheeledsupport unit is driven or powered along and over the ground or supportsurface. The wheels may be steered or turned via correspondinglypivoting the wheels and motors about their respective generally verticalpivot axes defined by the posts to turn the wheels relative to the frameportion of the wheeled unit. As shown in FIG. 1, all four wheels may becontrolled in a “four wheel steering” mode, where the wheels may beindividually turned or pivoted about their vertical pivot axes or wherethe front wheels are pivoted in tandem and the rear wheels are pivotedin tandem to steer the wheeled unit as it moves the concrete hose.Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 11, the rear wheels may be lockedor held in a straight configuration and the front wheels may be pivotedor steered to provide a “two wheel steering” mode for steering andmaneuvering the wheeled unit. Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 12,the front and rear wheels may be controlled and pivoted and steered toprovide a “crab steering” mode for steering and maneuvering the wheeledunit. The steering mode may be selected by an operator that is remotelycontrolling the wheeled device and may switch between the differentsteering modes to maneuver the wheeled device in the desired orappropriate manner at the support surface. Optionally, the path oftravel (and the appropriate steering modes) may be programmed so thatthe wheeled device maneuvers along a pre-programmed path during placingof the concrete at the support surface.

The wheeled support unit 12 may include the mechanical frame andcomponents, a supply of hydraulic fluid or oil in a reservoir, ahydraulic pump, control valves, hydraulic pressure lines, and anelectrical system including a battery and charging system. The hosemoving device of the present invention may utilize aspects of variouswheeled devices, such as screeding devices of the types described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,195,423; 7,175,363; 7,121,762; 6,976,805 and/or6,953,304, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

The grasping and lifting and supporting device 14 is mounted to orattached to the wheeled support unit 12 and is operable to lower thegrasping device 16 toward and into engagement with the concrete supplyhose via elevation device 20 and to cause the grasping device 16 tograsp the concrete supply hose. In the illustrated embodiment, thegrasping device 16 comprises a pair of curved grasping arms that arepivotally attached at a vertically movable bracket or frame 20 a andthat, when closed, engage and grasp a hose section to grasp and retainand lift the hose section. When the grasping device 16 has engaged andgrasped or clamped onto the concrete supply hose, the elevation device20 may raise or elevate or lift the grasping device 16 and the concretesupply hose grasped therein so that at least a portion of the concretesupply hose or section of hose is lifted above the ground. As thegrasping device is raised, the linkage assembly 22 (which is linked tothe vertically moving frame 20 a that moves with the grasping element16) imparts a pivotal movement of the support elements 18 (which maycomprise curved support arms) to open and close the support elements.

In the illustrated embodiment, the arms of the grasping and liftingdevice 16 are pivotally mounted at the frame portion 20 a, which isvertically movable along a vertical support 20 b via actuation ofactuator 20 (such as a linear actuator or hydraulic cylinder or thelike). The actuator 20 provides for generally vertical movement of thebracket or frame 20 a and rotation of the bracket or frame about agenerally vertical or longitudinal axis of the actuator is generallyprecluded (this may be accomplished via any know means, such asnon-cylindrical construction of the telescoping vertical support 20 b).The extension and retraction of the actuator 20 causes a generallyvertical movement of the bracket 20 a, upon which the grasping device 16is mounted, so as to vertically move or raise and lower the graspingdevice 16 between a raised position or orientation and a loweredposition or orientation. The actuator 20 may be selectively controlledto selectively raise and lower the grasping device 16, such as inresponse to a user input or the like. For example, an operator maytoggle or actuate a toggle switch or the like at a remote control panelto selectively extend and retract the actuator to lower and raise thegrasping device when desired.

When the grasping device (in its opened position or state) is lowered toengage a hose (see FIGS. 5A-C), the grasping device is closed at leastpartially around the hose to grasp the hose for lifting (see FIGS.6A-D). The opening and closing of the grasping device may be achievedvia an actuator 21 mounted at the bracket or frame 20 a and separatelycontrolled to open and close the grasping device at the appropriatetime. Optionally, the opening and closing of the grasping device may beachieved mechanically, such as by a linkage that causes closing of thegrasping device when the grasping device is lowered a predeterminedamount or when a part of the grasping device engages a hose section.After the grasping device is closed around or partially around a hosesection, the actuator 20 may be actuated to raise the frame 20 a, whichimparts movement of linkages of the linkage assembly 22 to pivot thesupport elements 18 as the hose is raised upward to the level of thesupport elements.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the support elements 18 comprisesa pair of curved arms that are pivotable relative to one another viaoperation of the linkage assembly 22. The linkage assembly 22 comprisesa pair of elongated linkages or members 22 a that are pivotally mountedat a frame of the wheeled unit (such as via end brackets 23 thatpivotally mount at the frame with a pivot axis spaced from alongitudinal axis of the respective elongated linkages 22 a). Thelinkages 22 a are non-circular shaped and the arms of the supportelements 18 are attached at or near opposite ends of the linkages 22 a,such that rotation or swinging movement of the linkages 22 a causepivotal movement of the arms of the support elements 18. The linkages 22a are linked to the vertically movable frame 20 a via a respective pairof linkages 22 b, 22 c.

In the illustrated embodiment, linkage 22 b is pivotally mounted at oneend to the bracket or frame 20 a, with linkage 22 c pivotally mounted atthe opposite end of linkage 22 b, and with the opposite end of linkage22 c fixedly attached at linkage 22 a. Thus, and as can be seen uponreview of FIGS. 2A-5C, as the frame or bracket 20 a moves verticallydownward (via actuation and extension of actuator 20), the linkages 22b, 22 c cooperate to pivot and swing the linkages 22 a outwardly to openthe support elements 18. Likewise, and as can be seen upon review ofFIGS. 6A-10C, as the frame 20 a moves vertically upward (with thegrasping device 16 grasping a hose section), the linkages 22 b, 22 ccooperate to pivot and swing the linkages 22 a from their opened state(FIGS. 6A-D) inwardly toward their closed state (FIGS. 10A-C) to closethe support elements 18, such that the hose section is supported at araised position (via the grasping device 16 and the closed supportelements 18). When closed below or partially around the hose section,the support elements 18 support the hose section at or near oppositeends of the wheeled support unit and limit sideward movement or bendingof the hose at the support unit. The arms of the support may comprisenon-flexible metal elements, and may optionally have a rounded surfaceand/or cushioning element or the like that engages the hose.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 11 and 12, the wheeled support unit may operate tolift and move a hose or section of hose at a support surface.Optionally, the wheeled support device or unit may include a concreteplacing hose or discharge tube 24 or the like, such as shown in FIGS.13-15. The concrete placing device includes a hose connecting portion 26at the wheeled support that is configured to connect to a concretesupply hose to supply uncured concrete to the wheeled device, wherebythe supplied uncured concrete is placed at the support surface by theconcrete placing hose or discharge tube as the wheeled device is movedover the support surface. The concrete placing hose or discharge tubemay be pivotable about a generally vertical axis at the wheeled supportor may be fixedly mounted at the wheeled support.

The same base machine design is used for both the hose puller (hosegrapple) and the placer. The machine can be equipped with the rotatingdischarge chute or the hose clamp/grapple or hose grasping and supportapparatus. Both machines use the same hydraulic manifold block tocontrol all functions. The manifold block is populated with differentvalves or plugs in order to configure it for use on either the puller(hose lifting and moving device) or the placer (concrete placingdevice).

There are three steering modes (two wheel steering, four wheel steeringand crab steering). These are user selectable from the remote control.In the crab steering mode, the steering can articulate up to 90 degreesto either the left or right. In the two wheel steering and four wheelsteering modes, the steering is intelligently limited to eliminate tirescrub and possible “skid-steering” (i.e., the tires/wheels cannot besteered so that the wheels of one set at the front or rear of thesupport are oriented perpendicular to the wheels of the other set ofwheels at the opposite end of the support). The remote control isequipped with a steering “return to center” switch. Pushing this switchautomatically returns the front wheels to the center or straightposition or orientation. If the crab steering mode or the four wheelsteering mode is active, the rear wheels will also return to the centeror straight position or orientation.

The hose grapple or support elements or mechanism is driven by linkagesand is actuated by the same hydraulic cylinder that raises and lowersthe clamping or grasping device. The linkage delays the support elementclosing action so that the hose is lifted off the ground before thegrapple arms or support arms swing underneath the raised hose to providesupport.

The hose grasping and raising/lowering operation can be controlled via aswitch on the machine or via the remote control. Optionally, the machinemay not provide remote function of the clamp open/close. Optionally, themachine may provide remote function of the opening and closing of thegrasping device or clamp, such as via use of digital outputs from theradio receiver that could be utilized to add this functionality. Forsuch an application, the remote control may include another switch ormay include a dual axis joystick, such that both the open/close andraise/lower functions could be operated remotely.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hose moving device ormachine that is operable to grasp and lift and support a hose or sectionof hose for moving the hose at a concrete placing site. The supportelements at opposite ends of the machine are opened and closed viamechanical linkage with the central grasping device, such that actuationof a single actuator can raise a grasped hose and can close the supportelements at the raised hose to support the hose at the machine or unit.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. A wheeled hose moving device that is movable over a support surfaceand that is operable to grasp, lift and move a concrete supply hose atthe support surface, said wheeled hose moving device comprising: awheeled support, said wheeled support including a frame portion andwheels rotatably mounted at said frame portion; a hose grasping deviceat said wheeled support, wherein said hose grasping device is verticallymovable between a raised position and a lowered position via anactuator, and wherein said hose grasping device comprises a pair ofgrasping arms that pivot relative to one another between an opened stateand a closed state; at least one hose support element that comprises apair of support arms that pivot relative to one another between anopened state and a closed state, wherein said pair of support arms ofsaid at least one hose support element are pivoted responsive tomovement of said hose grasping device; wherein said wheeled support ispositionable at a concrete supply hose and said hose grasping device islowerable to a level at the concrete supply hose, and wherein, when saidhose grasping device is lowered toward the level at the concrete supplyhose, said pair of grasping arms of said hose grasping device and saidpair of support arms of said at least one hose support element are inthe opened state; wherein, when said hose grasping device is lowered tobe at the concrete supply hose, said grasping arms of said hose graspingdevice are moved toward the closed state to engage and grasp theconcrete supply hose; and wherein, when said grasping arms of said hosegrasping device are in the closed state and grasp the concrete supplyhose, said hose grasping device is raised to lift the grasped concretesupply hose, and wherein, responsive to said hose grasping device beingraised, said pair of support arms of said at least one hose supportelement are moved toward the closed state to at least partially closebelow the raised concrete supply hose to support the raised concretesupply hose, whereby the grasped and lifted and supported concretesupply hose is movable over the support surface by said wheeled support.2. The wheeled hose moving device of claim 1, wherein, responsive tosaid hose grasping device being lowered, said pair of support arms ofsaid at least one hose support element are moved toward the openedstate.
 3. The wheeled hose moving device of claim 1, wherein each saidsupport arm of said at least one hose support element is mechanicallylinked to said hose grasping device so that said support arms moveresponsive to vertical movement of said hose grasping device.
 4. Thewheeled hose moving device of claim 3, wherein each said support arm ofsaid at least one hose support element is mechanically linked to saidhose grasping device via an elongated member and a pair of linkages thatcooperate to rotate and move said elongated member responsive tovertical movement of said hose grasping device.
 5. The wheeled hosemoving device of claim 1, wherein said hose grasping device isselectively vertically movable via a vertically oriented actuator. 6.The wheeled hose moving device of claim 5, wherein said grasping arms ofsaid hose grasping device are moved relative to one another via anotheractuator.
 7. The wheeled hose moving device of claim 1, wherein saidgrasping arms of said hose grasping device comprise oppositely curvedgrasping elements that grasp a cylindrical hose when in said closedorientation.
 8. The wheeled hose moving device of claim 1, wherein saidat least one hose support element is spaced from said hose graspingdevice and is disposed at an end region of said wheeled support.
 9. Thewheeled hose moving device of claim 8, wherein said hose grasping deviceis centrally located at said wheeled support, and wherein said at leastone hose support element comprises two hose support elements, one ateach end region of said wheeled support at opposite sides from said hosegrasping device.
 10. The wheeled hose moving device of claim 9, whereineach said support arm of said hose support elements is attached at arespective elongated member that is mechanically linked to said hosegrasping device via a pair of linkages that cooperate to rotate and movesaid elongated member and said arms of said hose support elementsresponsive to vertical movement of said hose grasping device.
 11. Thewheeled hose moving device of claim 10, wherein each said pair oflinkages comprises a first link and a second link pivotally attached atsaid first link, and wherein said first link is pivotally attached atsaid hose grasping device and said second link is fixedly attached atthe respective elongated member, and wherein vertical movement of saidhose grasping device pivots said first links and said second links andcauses said elongated members to pivot.
 12. The wheeled hose movingdevice of claim 11, wherein each of said elongated members is pivotallyattached at said wheeled support via a bracket such that the bracketspivot about a pivot axis that is spaced from a longitudinal axis of saidelongated members so as to swing and pivot said elongated membersresponsive to vertical movement of said hose grasping device.
 13. Thewheeled hose moving device of claim 1, wherein said wheels of saidwheeled support are pivotable about respective vertical axes to steersaid wheeled support over the support surface.
 14. The wheeled hosemoving device of claim 13, wherein said wheels are selectively pivotedabout the vertical axes to selectively provide one of (i) a two wheelsteering mode, (ii) a four wheel steering mode and (iii) a crab steeringmode.
 15. The wheeled hose moving device of claim 14, wherein,responsive to a user input, said wheels are returned to a straightposition or a center position.
 16. A method for grasping, lifting andmoving a concrete supply hose via a wheeled hose moving device, saidmethod comprising: providing a wheeled support, wherein the wheeledsupport comprises a frame portion and wheels rotatably mounted at theframe portion, and wherein the wheeled support comprises a hose graspingdevice and a hose support element, and wherein the hose grasping devicecomprises a pair of grasping arms that are movable relative to oneanother between an opened state and a closed state, and wherein the hosesupport element comprises a pair of support arms that are movablerelative to one another between an opened state and a closed state;positioning the wheeled support at a concrete supply hose; moving thehose grasping device vertically from a raised position toward a loweredposition via an actuator; when the hose grasping device is lowered tothe lowered position so as to be at the concrete supply hose, pivotingthe grasping arms of the hose grasping device relative to one anotherfrom their opened state toward their closed state to grasp the concretesupply hose; when the grasping arms of the hose grasping device are inthe closed state and grasping the concrete supply hose, raising the hosegrasping device to lift the grasped concrete supply hose via the hosegrasping device; responsive to raising the hose grasping device, movingthe support arms of the hose support element toward their closed stateto at least partially close below the raised concrete supply hose tosupport the raised concrete supply hose above the support surface; andmoving the wheeled support to move the grasped and lifted and supportedconcrete supply hose over the support surface.
 17. The method of claim16, comprising lowering said hose grasping device and the grasped andlifted and supported concrete supply hose, and, responsive to loweringthe hose grasping device, moving the support arms of the hose supportelement toward their opened state to release the concrete supply hose.18. The method of claim 16, wherein the support arms are mechanicallylinked to the hose grasping device, and wherein said method comprisesmoving the support arms toward their opened state via linkages thatcooperate to move the support arms toward their opened state responsiveto downward movement of the hose grasping device and to move the supportarms toward their closed state responsive to upward movement of the hosegrasping device.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein moving the hosegrasping device comprises moving the hose grasping device via a firstactuator.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein moving the grasping armsof the hose grasping device relative to one another comprises moving thegrasping arms via a second actuator.
 21. The method of claim 16, whereinthe wheeled support comprises a first hose support element spaced fromthe hose grasping device and located toward one end of the wheeledsupport and a second hose support element spaced from the hose graspingdevice and located toward another end of the wheeled support.
 22. Awheeled concrete hose moving or concrete placing device that is movableover a support surface and that is operable to move a concrete supplyhose at the support surface or place concrete at the support surface,said wheeled device comprising: a wheeled support, said wheeled supportincluding a frame portion and wheels rotatably mounted at said frameportion; wherein said wheels of said wheeled support comprise a firstset of wheels at one end of the wheeled support and a second set ofwheels at the other end of the wheeled support; wherein said wheels arepivotable about respective vertical axes to steer said wheeled supportover the support surface; wherein said wheels of said first set ofwheels are pivoted together about the respective vertical axes andwherein said wheels of said second set of wheels are pivoted togetherabout the respective vertical axes; wherein said wheels are selectivelypivoted about the vertical axes to provide one of (i) a two wheelsteering mode, (ii) a four wheel steering mode and (iii) a crab steeringmode; and wherein, during steering of said wheeled support, said wheeleddevice limits pivoting of said wheels about their respective axes sothat said wheels of said first set of wheels cannot pivot so as to beoriented perpendicular to said wheels of said second set of wheels. 23.The wheeled device of claim 22, wherein, after pivoting at least some ofsaid wheels to steer said movable support and responsive to a userinput, said wheels are returned to a straight position or a centerposition.
 24. The wheeled device of claim 23, wherein said wheels arereturned to the straight position responsive to a user input of a remotecontrol.
 25. The wheeled device of claim 23, wherein, when said wheeleddevice is operating in the two wheel steering mode, said first set ofwheels return to the straight position responsive to the user input. 26.The wheeled device of claim 23, wherein, when said wheeled device isoperating in the four wheel steering mode or the crab wheel steeringmode, said first set of wheels and said second set of wheels return tothe straight position responsive to the user input.
 27. The wheeleddevice of claim 22, wherein said wheeled device limits pivoting of saidwheels about their respective axes so that said wheels of said first setof wheels cannot pivot so as to be oriented perpendicular to said wheelsof said second set of wheels at least when operating in the two wheelsteering mode or the four wheel steering mode.
 28. The wheeled device ofclaim 22, wherein said wheeled device is operable to grasp, lift andmove a concrete supply hose at the support surface, and wherein saidwheeled device comprises a hose grasping device at said wheeled support,and wherein said hose grasping device is vertically movable between araised position and a lowered position via an actuator, and wherein saidhose grasping device comprises a pair of grasping arms that pivotrelative to one another between an opened state and a closed state. 29.The wheeled device of claim 22, wherein said wheeled device is operableto place uncured concrete at the support surface, and wherein saidwheeled device comprises a hose connecting portion that connects to aconcrete supply hose and a concrete placing structure that extends froman upper portion of said wheeled support and functions to place concretesupplied from the concrete supply hose at the support surface.